It was Sand, leading scorer in the Bundesliga last season, who had the game's first chance on 12 minutes.

The Schalke striker stole in behind the Uruguay defence to meet Thomas Helveg's cross with a downward header that bounced up and over off the bar.

Uruguay's principal threat came from Internazionale forward Recoba, who looked especially dangerous with the dead ball.

He curled one free-kick inches wide in the eighth minute, forced a save out of Thomas Sorensen mid-way through the half and also teed up Gustavo Valera for a header he directed straight at the Danish keeper.

But Denmark possessed the sharper cutting edge and took the lead with a well-crafted goal on the stroke of half-time.